Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has returned from Havana where he represented President Yoweri Museveni at the send off of former Cuban Leader Fidel Castro.
Castro, one of the world’s longest-serving and most iconic leaders, died last week on Friday aged 90.
In his condolence message to the South American country, read for him by the premier, President Museveni said he was deeply saddened by the demise of the renowned leader.
Fidel Castro, Museveni said, was a great and undisputed revolutionary leader.
In his message, Museveni described the deceased as a “person with an unwavering vision” who “worked hard to promote peace progress and prosperity among his people and the world.
“He ruled over Cuba for nearly five decades and during that time his regime was successful in reducing illiteracy, stamping out racism and improving public health care,” remarked the president.
Through his reign, Castro was remembered as a communist dictator who strived to spread violent revolution across Latin America and was blamed for the loss of more than 220,000 lives.
Nonetheless, some analysts have described Castro as more of a godfather figure to Colombian revolutionaries, one who never played a dominant role in their uprisings.
Museveni noted that despite the criticism of his rule, “he remains a leader, who never believed in quitting and fought, up to the end of his life.”
“Nothing can explain this better than his phrase that became well known in Cuba and abroad, “You can condemn me but it doesn’t matter; History will acquit me.”
And for Casro’s contribution to Africa’s decolonization, Museveni said the continent would “always remain indebted” to him.
“As Uganda, we align ourselves with this great debt of gratitude,” he added.
The remains of the late Castro have been moved to different parts of the country, and are expected to be buried tomorrow Sunday.